Game of Thrones Episode 4: Sons of Winter Review (PC)

very good
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  • Game: Game of Thrones Episode 4: Sons of Winter
  • Platform: PC
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Game of Thrones Episode 4 review

Telltale Games has delighted millions of gamers from all around the world with its different adventure experiences throughout the last few years. While the studio had a niche following thanks to titles like the Sam & Max ones, it really entered mainstream with The Walking Dead series, which proved it can forge interesting narratives inside already-established universes.

This allowed Telltale to approach HBO and author George R.R. Martin, in order to deliver an episodic adventure series based on the Game of Thrones property.

Already the first season is well underway, as its fourth episode, called Sons of Winter, is finally available across a multitude of platforms.

Promising to take the story to new heights and start resolving the many different conflicts it currently has underway, the latest chapter is looking quite interesting.

Does Sons of Winter manage to live up to its pretty solid predecessors or should winter swallow it whole? Let's find out.

Story

Bear in mind that, while I won't spoil big elements of the action in episode 4, I'm going to talk freely about events from previous chapters, so take this as a warning.

The current Game of Thrones episodes have been quite hard with most members of House Forrester as well as with people close to them, such as Gared Tuttle. The new chapter is no exception, but now finally, at least in some cases, things start going into a more positive, or at least less cruel direction.

First up, there's Rodrik Forrester, the current lord of the House, who has to deal with some interesting ramifications from previous episodes. While some of the actual choices made in the last few chapters don't have that big of a repercussion, some are still reminded and serve to at least show that Telltale's plot does get shaped, somewhat, by them.

Unfortunately, while there's a pretty important sequence towards the end, you can't really make your own choice, as some of those presented to you end up with a game over screen. I won't spoil them but it's pretty clear that some are just present as fakeouts.

Asher Forrester, the protagonist from Essos, finally plays a bigger role in the store, helping Daenerys Targaryen conquer Meereen, while dealing with some complex issues due to his partner in crime. Meanwhile, Gared Tuttle deals with the repercussions from last episode's life-or-death fight and manages to go beyond the wall, in search of the mythical grove.

Last but not least, and as a bit of a surprise, Mira Forrester, who plays her part in the game of thrones in King's Landing, has a few interesting sequences, showcasing just how important noble encounters are in this complex experience.

Overall, the story is pretty good as it finally stops throwing at the Forrester family tough situations. There are some interesting choices but, like in most Telltale experiences, only very few are accepted and have an impact on the story.

Daenerys and her dragon in Game of Thrones
Daenerys and her dragon in Game of Thrones

Gameplay

In terms of gameplay, Game of Thrones Episode 4 is par for the course, featuring an emphasis on dialog options and navigating tricky conversations, while sprinkling in quick-time events and just a few scarce exploration moments.

Conversations flow pretty well although there are some situations where the tone of your answer isn't properly signaled by the punctuation in the small preview. There are also some situations where none of the different options reflect your desire, so don't be afraid to remain silent.

The quick-time events are a bit more demanding this time around, as some feature very little time to actually react to what's happening on the screen. While in some situations you are allowed a second shot, others penalize you for failing on your first go.

While only a few exploration moments are present in this fourth chapter of the series, they are pretty intense and certainly put you in the midst of the action.

There are, however, a few glitches when it comes to animations and voice acting, as some lines won't be uttered by the actual characters, while in other situations they're not acting as they should have or move way faster than normal.

Make choices in Game of Thrones
Make choices in Game of Thrones

Visuals and Sound

In terms of visuals, Sons of Winter doesn't exactly offer a change of pace as opposed to previous chapters in the Game of Thrones series, so expect the same rather poor-looking watercolor effect when it comes to backgrounds. Animations, as I've mentioned above, are relatively good but there are a few glitches here and there. Once again facial animations are a bit stiff and transition from one emotion to another way too fast.

The soundtrack is good and the voice acting even better. The characters certainly feel alive although in this episode you won't get a chance to hear or see people from the TV show, with the exception of Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen who puts on a pretty convincing performance.


The Good

  • Interesting story developments
  • Plenty of action
  • Quite a few intense situations

The Bad

  • Some animation errors
  • Quick-time events are bit too demanding
  • Visuals still don't look all that great

Conclusion

Game of Thrones Episode 4 starts putting the series on the final straight in terms of action and packs quite a few interesting situations. There are a few of glitches and some choices end up with a game over screen but it's still a pretty enjoyable experience.
story 8
gameplay 7
concept 8
graphics 7
audio 9
multiplayer 0
final rating 8
Editor's review
very good
 

Game of Thrones Episode 4 Sons of Winter (14 Images)

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